This is Viewpoints for Friday, October 27, 2017

What about your part?

It is very frustrating to see derogatory posts from people who have likely never stepped foot into Warner Robins Animal Control to offer assistance, or helped with rescue, or worked to reduce the pet overpopulation in Warner Robins in any way. Sitting on the sidelines with criticism doesn’t count as helping.

Yes, kennel cough is treatable, but is also very contagious. Where do you suggest the infected dogs stay while they are being treated? Respiratory disease in cats spreads like wildfire and has to be contained.

Animal control is not rescue. The small staff can’t spend time socializing feral cats, for example, while also taking calls from dispatch, picking up roadkill, and assisting the public who stop in or call throughout the day.

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Volunteers are always welcome at WRAC. The problem is, with volunteerism in general, many people like the idea of volunteering more than the actual execution of it.

Animal control animals should be top priority with local rescues. Don’t get me started. Let’s just say some people should be very careful throwing stones from their glass houses.

There are always excuses. I would like to help but. I know, I’ve heard it for years volunteering with rescue and animal control in Warner Robins and that’s how it goes. However, when you’re asking animal control, “Why aren’t you doing this or doing that,” when you aren’t doing your part to try and help in your community and would never consider doing the stressful, heartbreaking, emotionally draining job they do on a daily basis, please, just stop.

Debbie Martin,

Stafford, Virginia

Any interest?

Has anyone else noticed that Mayor Harley is unavailable for comment on this debacle that is happening here in Centerville? Many locals are asking if he has a vested interest in the ill thought out plan to plague this city with a very bad idea of “affordable housing.” Maybe we can get him to talk about it and listen to the citizens. But, in the history of his tenure he does not show a great amount of interest in us.

J. vonDriver,

Centerville

RAISE Act

Today, many mainstream Hollywood movies are made in Georgia, but multiple cities in Canada are among the top four largest film production centers in North America. Why? The answer is partly because Canada’s merit-based immigration system has allowed Vancouver to attract many high-tech young professionals from around the world.

President Trump wants to fix our broken immigration system. Tom Cotton and I agree. We have a plan to fix it called the RAISE Act. It’s pro-worker, pro-growth and proven to work. It will create jobs, protect American workers, give immigrants a decent shot at rising up the economic ladder, and make America more competitive with the rest of the world.

The RAISE Act creates a merit-based points system for immigration, similar to ones in Canada and Australia that have worked for decades. Those systems include categories like education, age, salary, accomplishment, investment and English proficiency.

This plan welcomes these talented, skilled individuals from around the world who want to contribute to our economy. It removes current per-country caps on immigration so high-skilled applicants aren’t shut out of the process simply because of where they’re from. It also retains green card preferences for spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, but not for most extended family members.

Finally, the RAISE Act eliminates an outdated visa lottery system that is plagued by fraud and caps the number of refugees offered permanent residency at 50,000 per year, which is in line with our recent 13-year average.

The RAISE Act is proven to work. It’s modeled after the immigration systems of Canada and Australia, both of which have successfully attracted highly skilled workers to their countries for decades. To be completely clear, the RAISE Act only deals with the green card system. It does not touch temporary work visas regularly used in the agriculture, tourism, and hospitality industries.

Today, we are competing in a 21st century economy. We need an immigration system that meets the needs of our economy and makes us competitive. The current system is not achieving these goals. Let’s pass the RAISE Act and bring our immigration system into the 21st century.

Sen. David Perdue,

Washington, D.C.

Free pre-diabetes seminar

I have been a physician in Macon for over 37 years specializing in the treatment of Diabetes Mellitus. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has increased from 4 percent to over 12 percent in Middle Georgia due to the obesity epidemic. The simplest definition of obesity is a waist circumference of 35 for men and 34 for women. it is estimated that 40 percent of people in Middle Georgia are obese. In Macon-Bibb County there are 18,000 people with diabetes, but 52,000 with pre-diabetes. The approximate annual cost of caring for one person with diabetes is $10,000.

A person with a diagnosis of pre-diabetes will have a fasting blood sugar between 100 and 125. Often they are told by their physician not to worry, but to decrease food intake and walk. However, most people will not follow these instructions, and within three to five years 30 percent or more will develop diabetes.

Diabetes may be diagnosed with a fasting blood sugar over 125. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, renal failure, foot amputations and results in strokes and heart attacks. A person with pre-diabetes may be able to prevent the development of diabetes by changing their lifestyle and mindset.

The Jones Center will be hosting a free seminar about pre-diabetes on Friday, Nov. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon. There will be discussion on pre-diabetes, nutrition, exercise and mindset. My hope is that educating the community about diabetes and obesity will save lives. Call 478-746-8626 to reserve a seat.